Shahrizat: I rather be a general than a candidate

PAGOH: Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has confirmed that she won't make a parliament comeback after a month of speculations over her candidacy for the 14th General Election.
Speaking to reporters after attending an event in Bukit Pasir here, Shahrizat said she would prefer to play the role of a "general" in helping the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates by going down to the constituencies nationwide.
Shahrizat added that despite had been given a seat to contest, she turned down the offer after discussing the matter with BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
"My priority is to go around Malaysia to meet with the candidates' machinery an ensure a win for our party," she said, adding that being nominated for a seat would restrict her movement to other constituencies.
"I want to be down on the field. My priority in this stage of life is to become an effective general."
Stressing that the coming polls would be an important event, Shahrizat said there were many other ways for her to assist BN apart from being a candidate.
Shahrizat was a three-term parliamentarian for the Lembah Pantai constituency before her unexpected loss to PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar in the 2008 General Election.
The former federal minister was previously speculated to be fielded by BN for a comeback, with seats such as Sungai Besar and Bandar Tun Razak named as the possible choice.
On a separate matter, Shahrizat said the number of women candidates fielded by BN in the upcoming polls had seen an increase, from 9.8% in GE13 to 11.7% in GE 14.
She added that a total of 26 women candidates were fielded by BN in GE14, an increase of four candidates from GE13.
Ten more women candidates were nominated to contest for state seats, bringing the total number to 59.
While the number was still low from the 30% female representation championed by the women wing, Shahrizat said she was grateful for the increase.
"The 30% is our target. It would take some time (to achieve). What is important for me is for this elections to be better," she said.